Maxon debuts new SSD-9 by Susumu Tamura, Fortin launches new OD-9 mod version
Two new releases for fans of this classic pedal
Designer of the Tube Screamer Susumu Tamura has been working on a new Maxon Custom Shop edition of the Super Sonic Distortion SSD-9 pedal, taking the standard SD-9 to new places. And if that isn’t enough for you, there is also a new Fortin-Modded OD-9 pedal designed for use with high gain amps, too.
Maxon Super Sonic Distortion SSD-9
Designed by Susumu Tamura, the man behind the original Tube Screamer pedal, the new Custom Shop edition of the Maxon SD-9 has been named the SSD-9. Mr Tamura’s intention here is evidently to refine the original circuit even further. Allegedly, the design came about after he was looking at Scott Henderson‘s rig to find out how the SD-9 reacted with his pedals, and he stumbled across this new design by accident.
Maxon Super Sonic Distortion SSD-9 · Source: Maxon
Richer, Thicker, Louder
This new version has true bypass switching and three all-black control knobs labelled Distortion, Level and Tone. The tone control has been adjusted to give more emphasis on the low end and lower-midrange, so the voice has been shifted to give players a richer, thicker guitar tone. The pedal’s output has been significantly increased as well to help make it more compatible with a wider range of guitar gear. Plus, you have can now use a 18-V DC power supply for increased headroom, with less compression giving what Maxon is calling an “alternate drive signature”.
Pre-Order and Limited Run
This new Custom Shop Maxon SSD-9 is available for pre-order for $199 and the first 50 units will also be hand-signed by Mr Tamura, potentially making them quite collectable. You can hear this new, refined SSD-9 circuit in action in the demo video below. This is definitely one to check out for fans of the classic green distortion, as the Maxon SD-9 was already a killer pedal and so a refined version is more than welcome.
RRP – USD 199
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Mike Fortin OD-9 Overdrive?
On top of the excitement around the SSD-9 came news that Mike Fortin of Fortin Amps is also releasing a limited edition OD-9 Overdrive aimed for use with higher gain amps. It replaces the stock clipping diodes in the circuit with red LEDs for clipping to give a smoother tube-like overdrive tone that should be better suited for use with high gain amplifiers.
Maxon Fortin-Modded OD-9 · Source: Maxon
This OD-9 is slated for release in January 2021, with 100 units signed by Mike Fortin to be offered too. Like the new SSD-9, this Mike Fortin OD-9 is true-bypass and comes with a Fortin logo over the main pedal fascia to let you know it is a different circuit than usual. Check it out below and see what you think.
RRP – USD 199
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